Becker's Spine Review reported on several orthopedic practice mergers and acquisitions in 2021, and some significant deals were announced or closed at the beginning or end of the year.
Here is a breakdown of five of the most high-profile transactions in 2021 and what they mean for the field:
Editor's note: Transactions are listed in the order they were reported, beginning with the most recent.
1. Transaction: Three orthopedic practices in California — Walnut Creek-based Muir Orthopaedic Specialists, Los Gatos-based OrthoNorCal and San Ramon-based Webster Orthopedics — announced plans to merge in November.
What it means: The entity, Golden State Orthopedics & Spine, will be a 60-physician network. It will be positioned as the third largest specialty physician group in the western U.S. The merger will go into effect Jan. 1, 2022, and serve a population of about 3.5 million.
2. Transaction: Reno-based Spine Nevada and Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic Medical Clinic in Carson City, Nev., merged to create a 60-provider group.
What it means: The merger created the largest musculoskeletal care platform in the state. Tahoe Fracture joined Spine Nevade under Phoenix-based Healthcare Outcomes Performance Co.'s Nevada care network and gained access to HOPCo's clinical and quality infrastructure, IT tools and claims analytics to partner with health systems, provider groups and payers. The deal aligns with HOPCo's goal to team with musculoskeletal practices, health systems and payers to develop value-based care programs.
3. Transaction: Carrell Clinic in Dallas, Texas Orthopaedic Associates in Dallas, Fondren Orthopedic Group in Houston, Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Houston, Texas Orthopedics, Sports and Rehabilitation Associates in Austin and Azalea Orthopedics in Tyler combined to create OrthoLoneStar.
What it means: The merger was announced in November 2020. The entity has more than 150 physicians and is 100 percent physician-owned. It went into effect in January and is part of an ongoing consolidation trend of orthopedic "supergroups."
4. Transaction: Marriottsville, Md.-based health system Bon Secours has agreed to acquire Tuckahoe Orthopaedics, a 13-physician group in Richmond, Va., in April.
What it means: Tuckahoe Orthopaedics is a 13-physician group. It has served the community for more than 40 years, and the partnership is expected to Tuckahoe Orthopaedics' patients through increased access to care and services.
5. Transaction: Longmont, Colo.-based Front Range Orthopedics & Spine and Fort Collins, Colo.-based Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies merged in January.
What it means: The entity has about 600 employees across seven clinical locations. Forty-three physicians will practice under the OCR umbrella, as will 34 physician assistants and nurse practitioners, 18 physical therapists and seven occupational therapists. The partnership includes full business and clinical integration and aims to strengthen value-based care initiatives in the region.